Note, These Sailing Instructions are based upon the standard international Racing Rules of Sailing, and refer to them as RRS in the text below. You can download the current rules and indeed you should be aware of the most important ones when you are racing. Web page with the RRS you can download at no cost. There is also a short table describing our own start sequence with pictures of the flags following the RRS under the web page called "race formats".

March 2018

1 RULES
1.1 Racing will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing..
1.2 Prescriptions of the RYA will apply.
1.3 Not used.
1.4 Not used
1.5 Not used
1.6 The appropriate Class Rules will apply.
1.7 If there is a conflict between languages the English text will take precedence.

2 NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located at the OOD hut or as directed by the OOD at an alternative location.

3 CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted at least 30 minutes before the start of any race in which it will take effect.

4 SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
4.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed at the OD Hut.
4.2 Not used
4.3 Competitors shall wear buoyancy aids at all times while afloat.

5 SCHEDULE OF RACES
5.1 The schedule of races is as defined in the Sailing Programme.
5.2 Not used.
5.3 The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race each day is 5 minutes before the start time indicated on the sailing programme.

5.4 After a long postponement, to alert boats that a race or sequence of races will begin soon, an orange flag will be displayed with one sound at least four minutes before a warning signal is displayed.
5.5 Not used

6 CLASS FLAGS
Class flags will be:

Fleet

Class Flag

Start

Asymmetric

A

1st

General Handicap

G

2nd

Juniors

O

3rd

7 RACING AREAS
Attachment A shows the location of the racing area and hazards on the water. The Racing area will be within the boundaries defined by Dwr Cymru / Welsh Water.

8 THE COURSES
8.1 The courses will be displayed as a list of marks together with the side on which they are to be rounded displayed either at the OD Hut or on the committee boat.
8.2 Not used
8.3 A race may be shortened by displaying the flag ‘S’ and the class flag accompanied by two sound signals
(OR)
8.3 From the OD Hut a race may be shortened if using lights by a Red light accompanied by two sound signals.
In races other than Pursuit Races the signal at the appropriate time and that boat and all subsequent boats shall finish when they next cross the finish line. The elapsed finish time and the number of laps will be recorded for each boat and results calculated by the use of average lap times.

In Pursuit Races the finish signal will be made at the advertised number of minutes after the start. The position of all boats will be noted, boats must continue sailing until positions have been noted. Each helmsman shall note the boats immediately in front and behind, and will be expected to produce this evidence in any protest.
This changes rule 32
8.4 Legs of the course will not be changed after the preparatory signal. This changes rule 33.

9 MARKS
9.1 Course marks are fixed buoys on which flags may be flown. Their approximate position is shown on Attachment A. Temporary Orange and / or Pink buoys may also be laid. Flags are intended to assist the competitors, but do not alter the responsibility to sail the course as indicated in instruction 8.1
9.2 Not used.
9.3 Not Used
9.4 The starting and finishing marks will be course marks or dan buoys, the committee boat may also be used as a mark
9.5 Not used.

10 AREAS THAT ARE OBSTRUCTIONS
Areas outside the permitted sailing area defined by Dwr Cymru / Welsh Water are designated as obstructions.

11 THE START
11.1 Races will be started by using rule 26 with the warning signal made 5 minutes before the starting signal.
(OR)
11.1 If a single fleet from the OD Hut races, lights may be used starting as follows:

Standard Sequence used for OD hut based starts

Signal

Flashing Light

Sound

Minutes before starting signal.

Warning

Yellow

1 sound

5

Preparatory

Green + Yellow

1 sound

4

One Minute

Red + Green + Yellow

1 Sound

4

Starting

All Off

1 Sound

0

This changes rule 26.
11.2 The starting line will be the line between the staff on the committee boat and a course mark or dan buoy.
(OR)
11.2 When a shored based start is used, the starting line will be the line of the transit formed by the OD huts fixed and movable staff. Inner and / or outer limit marks may be used and will be indicated on the course instruction.
11.3 Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area during the starting sequence for other races.
11.4 A boat starting later than 10 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start without a hearing. This changes rule A4 and A5.
11.5 Not used.
11.6 Individual Recalls will be made in accordance with Rule 29.1
(OR)
11.6 If using lights by displaying a Green light with one sound signal
11.7 General Recalls will be made in accordance with Rule 29.2.
(OR)
11.7 If using lights by displaying a red light with two sound signals.

12 CHANGE OF THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE
12.1 The position of marks will not be altered during a race.
12.2 Not used.

13 THE FINISH
The finishing line will be the line between the staff on the committee and a course mark or dan buoy.
(OR)
When a shored based start is used, the finishing line will be the line of the transit formed by the OD huts fixed and movable staff. Inner and / or outer limit marks may be used and will be indicated on the course instruction.

14 PENALTY SYSTEM
14.1 The penalties are as follows:
14.2 If a boat accidentally rounds a given mark the wrong way she may exonerate herself by promptly completing a One Turn 360 degree penalty turn. If the error is not discovered until the race is complete, 30 seconds will be added to her finishing time or she will drop two finishing places in a pursuit race. This is changes RRS 28.2
14.3 Boats may touch a mark other than the starting or finishing mark. A boat shall not manhandle a mark when it results in an advantage. This changes RRS 31.
14.4 RRS 44.1 is changed so that the two-turns penalty is replaced by one-turn penalty.
14.5 The ONE-Turns penalty rule 44.2 will apply to all races

15 TIME LIMITS
15.1 Not used.
15.2 Boats failing to finish within 30 minutes after the first boat sails the course and finishes may be scored Did Not Finish without a hearing. This changes rules 35, A4 and A5.

16 PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS
16.1 Protest forms are available at the OD Hut. Protests and requests for redress or reopening shall be delivered there within the protest appropriate time limit.
16.2 For each class, the protest time limit is 90 minutes after the last boat has finished the last race of the day
16.3 Notices will be posted no later than 30 minutes after the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. Location of hearings will be advised.
16.4 Notices of protests by the race committee or [protest committee] will be posted to inform boats under rule 61.1(b).
16.5 A list of boats that, under instruction 14.3, have been penalised for breaking rule 42 will be posted.

16.6 Breaches of instructions 11.3, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26 and 27 will not be grounds for a protest by a boat. This changes rule 60.1(a). Penalties for these breaches may be less than disqualification if the [protest committee] so decides. The scoring abbreviation for a discretionary penalty imposed under this instruction will be DPI.
16.7 Not used.
16.8 Not used.
16.9 Decisions of the protest committee will be final as provided in rule 70.5.
16.10 Composition of Protest Committee: A Senior Club officer available on the day and not directly involved in the incident to appoint a Protest Committee. To comprise of a Chair person and two other members. Protest Committee should meet ASAP.

17 SCORING
17.1 The low points system will apply. For club Series RRS A9 will apply
17.2 1 race is required to be completed to constitute a series.
17.3 Not used
17.4 The number of scores to be counted for Club Series will be half the total number of races completed plus one, in the case of an even number of total races; or half the total number rounded up to the next whole number in the case of an odd total number of races.
17.5 Scoring will be for the helmsman and not the boat
17.6 Helms may use different boats during a series; however each boat will count as a separate entry for that series. If the boat is of the same class it will count as one entry.
17.7 Series results obtained in different boats can be accumulated to count towards the club championships.

18 SAFETY REGULATIONS
18.1 Not used.
18.2 A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible.

19 REPLACEMENT OF CREW OR EQUIPMENT
19.1 A helm may use a different crew during a series.
19.2 Substitution of damaged boats will not be permitted unless authorised by the Race Officer. Requests should be made at the first reasonable opportunity.

20 EQUIPMENT AND MEASUREMENT CHECKS
A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with the class rules and sailing instructions. A boat and equipment must comply with its class rules and sailing instructions.

21 ADVERTISING
Not used.

22 OFFICIAL BOATS
Not used.

23 SUPPORT BOATS
23.1 Not used.

24 TRASH DISPOSAL
Boats shall not put trash in the water. Trash may be placed aboard support and race committee boats.

25 HAUL-OUT RESTRICTIONS
Not used.

26 DIVING EQUIPMENT AND PLASTIC POOLS
Not used.

27 RADIO COMMUNICATION
Except in an emergency a boat shall neither make radio transmissions while racing nor receive radio communications not available to all boats. This restriction also applies to mobile telephones.

28 PRIZES
Not used.

29 RISK STATEMENT

Rule 4 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: "The responsibility for a boat's decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone." Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:

They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;

They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;

They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions;

Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;

The provision of a race management team, patrol boats, umpires and other officials and volunteers by the organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities;

The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances;

30 INSURANCE
Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of &gbp;3,000,000 per event or the equivalent.

Attachment A - Map of buoys and Hazards at Llandegfedd Reservoir

Racing Area map. The Buoys shown are fixed Buoys that will not be moved. They are numbered clockwise around the sides of the reservoir, and have letters down the middle.

The shaded areas are those designated by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water as "No Sailing Areas". No sailors should approach nearer than 50 yards from the bank, or to fishermen in boats.

Attachment B (references to RRS 2017 - 2020, included for guidance)

26 STARTING RACES
Races shall be started by using the following signals. Times shall be taken from the visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.

Signal

Flag

Sound

Minutes before starting signal.

Warning

Class flag up

1 sound

5

Preparatory

P, I, Z, Z with I, or black flag up

1 sound

4

One-minute

Preparatory flag down

1 long sound

1

Starting

Class flag down

1 sound

0

The warning signal for each succeeding class shall be made with or after the starting signal of the preceding class.

29.1 Individual Recall
When at a boat’s starting signal any part of her hull, crew or equipment is on the course side of the starting line or she must comply with rule 30.1, the race committee shall promptly display flag X with one sound. The flag shall be displayed until all such boats are completely on the pre-start side of the starting line or one of its extensions and have complied with rule 30.1 if it applies, but not later than four minutes after the starting signal or one minute before any later starting signal, whichever is earlier.
If rule 30.3 applies this rule does not.

29.2 General Recall
When at the starting signal the race committee is unable to identify boats that are on the course side of the starting line or to which rule 30 applies, or there has been an error in the starting procedure, the race committee may signal a general recall (display the First Substitute with two sounds). The warning signal for a new start for the recalled class shall be made one minute after the First Substitute is removed (one sound), and the starts for any succeeding classes shall follow the new start.

32 SHORTENING OR ABANDONING AFTER THE START

32.2 If the race committee signals a shortened course (displays flag S with two sounds), the finishing line shall be,

(a) at a rounding mark, between the mark and a staff displaying flag S;
(b) at a line boats are required to cross at the end of each lap, that line;
(c) at a gate, between the gate marks.

The shortened course shall be signalled before the first boat crosses the finishing line.

42 PROPULSION
42.1 Basic Rule
Except when permitted in rule 42.3 or 45, a boat shall compete by using only the wind and water to increase, maintain or decrease her speed. Her crew may adjust the trim of sails and hull, and perform other acts of seamanship, but shall not otherwise move their bodies to propel the boat.

44 PENALTIES
44.2 One-Turn and Two-Turns Penalty Penalties
After getting well clear of other boats as soon after the incident as possible, a boat takes a one-Turn or Two-Turns Penalty by promptly making the required number of turns in the same direction, each turn including one tack and one gybe. When a boat takes the penalty at or near the finishing line, she shall sail completely to the course side of the line before finishing.

A9 RACE SCORES IN A SERIES LONGER THAN A REGATTA
For a series that is held over a period of time longer than a regatta, a boat that came to the starting area but did not start, did not finish, retired after finishing or was disqualified shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats that came to the starting area. A boat that did not come to the starting area shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats entered in the series.